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Don Davis

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Don Davis has been the Forum Communications Minnesota Capitol Bureau chief since 2001, covering state government and politics for two dozen newspapers in the state. Don also blogs at Capital Chatter on Areavoices.

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ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota Vikings say Gov. Mark Dayton and others are jumping the gun in criticizing the idea of selling pricey seats to some season-ticket holders. In strong language, Dayton wrote to Vikings owners complaining about their interest in selling high-priced seat licenses to raise money that would count toward the team's contribution to a new nearly $1 billion stadium.

ST. PAUL -- Sen. Tom Bakk will be the Minnesota Senate's leader. A Tweet from inside a closed meeting early this afternoon gave the expected news. Bakk, DFL-Cook, was to meet with reporters later today. Democratic senators and senators-elect met at the St. Paul Hotel this afternoon to pick leaders and celebrate taking control of the Senate in Tuesday's election. They were out of power two years, after Republicans took the majority in 2010 for the first time in 38 years. Tonight, Democratic representatives are expected to pick Rep. Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, as speaker.

ST. PAUL -- Forgive Minnesota Democrats if they wear broad smiles today. Democratic-Farmer-Laborites won all the big prizes in Tuesday's election. Witness: -- Both houses of the Legislature will be in DFL control for the first time in two-and-a-half decades. -- Democratic President Barack Obama carried Minnesota, like he did the country. -- Two Republican-pushed constitutional amendment proposals lost. -- The Minnesota congressional delegation will be in Democratic control, thanks to Rick Nolan's return to Congress in northeastern Minnesota. -- U.S. Sen.

ST. PAUL -- Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar breezed to an easy re-election victory Tuesday and most U.S. House members from Minnesota won. However, some House races remained close late Tuesday, with one in the northeastern quarter of Minnesota likely not to be decided until Wednesday. Winning U.S. Reps. Included Collin Peterson, Keith Ellison, Betty McCollum and Erik Paulsen. The 8th Congressional District in the northeastern quarter of Minnesota that featured first-term GOP U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack and former Democratic U.S. Rep.

ST. PAUL -- A battle about whether to define marriage as only between a man and woman produced the most expensive Minnesota constitutional amendment campaign ever, but regardless of the outcome nothing will change soon. As voters entered polling places Tuesday, it appeared the question would be close and Minnesotans would be in for a long wait to see how it came out. The battle has been brewing for years, with a May 2011 state Legislature vote to put the proposal on the ballot signaling the real start of the most extensive ballot question campaign in state history.

ST. PAUL -- Minnesota Democrats are launching what they call the most ambitious get-out-the-vote campaign ever, including sending around the state a tour bus featuring gigantic photos of President Barack Obama, Gov. Mark Dayton and U.S. Sen.

ST. PAUL -- Gov. Mark Dayton told a crowd gathered to hear former President Bill Clinton that each one of them is needed to elect Democrats on Tuesday because races are so close. Then, upon further thought, he added that U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar does not fall into that "close" category. Indeed, polls show Klobuchar with a massive lead. "Kurt Bills' poll numbers show him with the second lowest support of any GOP U.S.